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Known as 'The Happiest Man in the World,' celebrated Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard reveals ten common paradoxes that keep us from living our best lives.
10 Things You Think Will Make You Happy -- But Won't
Seeded on Mon Sep 20, 2010 2:03 AM EDT
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1. Becoming rich, powerful and famous.
2. Treating the universe as if it were a mail-order catalog by expecting it to gratify our every desire.
3. Yearning for the "freedom" to achieve every last wish. This is not freedom, but being the slave of your own thoughts.
- 5 votes
#1 - Mon Sep 20, 2010 2:04 AM EDTI love most of these, but super hate this one:
2. Treating the universe as if it were a mail-order catalog by expecting it to gratify our every desire.
The world is a pretty great place to live. Maybe the expecting is the bad part but, as far as I can see, it always offers joy, if you're willing to figure out how to find it.
Maybe I just lead a lucky, privileged life. But even the worst tragedies just bring to focus bonds of love, understanding and caring. I feel very bad for anyone who doesn't agree, and will try to show them a little bit more love, when I get the chance to.
- 3 votes
#2 - Mon Sep 20, 2010 4:40 AM EDTI'm not even sure I understand what they mean by that one. It could mean stop asking the Divine for what you want. If that is it, I disagree. Prayers are wishes, hopes and dreams. Why should be give them up? It is when I am most depressed that I don't have those. I consider them a sign I'm doing okay.
I believe the purpose of life is to try to find joy among all the harshness we encounter. I fully admit I struggle with it. However, when I can stop and gaze at something beautiful, my day is instantly better no matter what is going on. That even includes the eerie glow of fires on every horizon after an earthquake. I sat for more than an hour between the quake and dawn, just watching and marveling at the damage that must have been done to cause all those fires. I was injured but not that bad. My house was injured but who knew how bad since it was dangerous to go inside without lights? But my family was safe, as were my neighbors, and the fires weren't close, so I could feel blessed in that hour while waiting to see the damage that the dawn would reveal.
- 3 votes
To Buddhists, from what I understand, desire is not a good thing. From what I remember it is about Earthly desires. We are unhappy because we can't have everything we want. A bigger TV, more money, a bigger house, etc. One can never be satisfied if we constantly desire something bigger and better. Does that make sense?
- 4 votes
I agree chick76 I see it as blaming someone or something other than the self for failing to come across with whatever it is one desires. I've lived with a person that continually thought the world owed them a living. They were selfish discontent and mean-spirited when life let them down. Another person I knew called upon the "Universal Powers" to grant them happiness yet never lifted a finger to make this happen and resented those that seemed to find happiness.
- 4 votes
Unfortunately I know people like that too. Thankfully I don't have to see them very often. They just seem to bring me down.
- 3 votes
Yea becoming rich might not make me happier, but it would make me a lot more comfortable.
- 5 votes
#3 - Mon Sep 20, 2010 12:43 PM EDTMy thoughts exactly. With wealth I could be comfortably miserable. Not a bad concept.
- 4 votes
I think it was Oscar Wilde who said "Money won't buy happiness, but it makes one's misery a lot more tolerable" maybe it was Mark Twain
interesting choices in the article.....I can't really disagree, but I may have changed a few. But I do believe that happiness is internal, even though it's hard to ignore external influences sometimes.
- 6 votes
I second that!!
Money may not be able to buy you happiness, but I'm sure it comes close. ;)
- 2 votes
Interesting list. What hit me reading it is how so many of them as considered worthy goals in American culture.
I agree with the entire list and would add one.
Happiness is found more in the intangibles and one of greatest of those is in understanding others. The best way to do this is to understand oneself.
- 5 votes
#4 - Tue Sep 21, 2010 1:34 AM EDTFantastic addition Voter, thanks. Those oblivious to the self often find others never quite match up to their ideals. Taking a bit of a trip outside the self allows one to look in through the windows of their soul.
- 3 votes
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